Ronald Klain criticized his previous employer, President Joe Biden, for prioritizing a “bridge” over the economy, as revealed in audio obtained by Politico. Klain was reportedly discussing the White House communication strategy during an event on April 4. Despite his criticisms, the former chief of staff expressed pride in Biden’s achievements and maintained his stance on the White House communication strategy.
“I think the president is out there too much talking about bridges,” Klain said, according to audio exclusively obtained by Politico. “He does two or three events a week where he’s cutting a ribbon on a bridge. And here’s a bridge. Like, I tell you, if you go into the grocery store, you go to the grocery store and, you know, eggs and milk are expensive, the fact that there’s a fucking bridge is not [inaudible].”
The ex-chief of staff emphasized the importance of showcasing the administration’s infrastructure projects, yet expressed some doubt.
“He’s not a congressman. He’s not running for Congress,” said Klain. “I think it’s kind of a fool’s errand. I think that [it] also doesn’t get covered that much because, look, it’s a fucking bridge. Like it’s a bridge, and how interesting is the bridge? It’s a little interesting but it’s not a lot interesting.”
Klain discussed with Politico regarding the recording of his remarks, mentioning that he proceeded to commend the president’s achievements during his tenure at the event.
“The president’s most effective economic message is contrast around whose side are you on, and compassion for the [pinch] of family budgets, and his agenda to bring down costs and raise incomes — and that lauding achievements — especially ones with abstract benefits — is less persuasive with voters,” Klain told Politico.
The White House and its allies have ceased using the term “Bidenomics,” previously coined as the overarching label for the president’s economic policies. According to an Axios analysis on March 24, President Biden had refrained from using the term “Bidenomics” since Jan. 25, except for one instance during an address in North Carolina in the spring. The president opted not to mention the term during his State of the Union speech.
In September 2023, Democrats had urged the White House to reconsider the use of the term, expressing concerns that it was causing distress among Americans still facing economic challenges, as reported by Politico. Advisers close to the president cautioned the White House that using the term to highlight economic achievements was not resonating well politically, Politico noted. The White House conveyed to Politico that there was little divergence between the administration’s communication approach and the recommendations made by the former staffer.
“Like Ron says, President Biden is crisscrossing the country building on his State of the Union message, highlighting that he is fighting to grow the middle class and lower costs like prescription drugs while blocking the trickle-down agenda Republican officials have proposed on behalf of rich special interests, including Medicare cuts and tax giveaways to big corporations,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told the outlet. “The President repeated that message in his Univision interview yesterday and will not let up.”
